A dear family member came by to see me the other day and we had a nice visit. But I noticed that, three or four times during our time together, she was furiously texting.

Some would be offended by someone texting while in their presence, but I’m really not offended. I just wonder. Where are they?

I mean, in a sense, they’re not really… anywhere. They’re not visiting with me. They’re not in the presence of the friend they’re texting. It’s almost as if – for that moment, at least – they don’t really exist. They don’t have a “present” as such, just a kind of in-between. Not really here, but not there either.

It’s kind of how I feel about turning forty-nine years old. Yep, today is my birthday, so of course, I’ll be sitting in front of a chocolate cake and chilling all the day long. Diets will be on hiatus, of course. All other obligations will be on auto-pilot. It’s going to be a “me day,” for sure!

So I hear tell that “life begins at fifty.” Well… what do I till then? I’ve got a year before life begins? How am I gonna spend my time, waiting for life to begin? It’s like I’m in limbo! Life is on hold till next year! Aah!

Okay, I’m back now. That’s just a saying, you tell me. Well thank you. Life begins right where you are, doesn’t it?

So now that I’ve reached this almost-milestone, part of me wants to say, “yikes!” But the truth is, getting older is a blessing. Sure, I’d like to have more energy, but I don’t really know that I had that much energy, even in my twenties. It seemed there was so much to be done. So much I wanted out of life. I didn’t realize that I had choices, and that, if I’d looked around me, I really had the whole world in front of me.

It didn’t feel that way. It felt like I had to go, do, move, get out there, get things done, get on the right track. It may well have all been pressure I put on myself, but I never felt relaxed and positive. I felt stressed and my soul felt squashed.

Now that I’m older, and have effectively taken myself out of the “rat race,” I feel so much more hopeful. I get to be myself, knowing God loves me as I am and I don’t have to be anyone but me. My faith is a huge part of that sense of optimism, and I’m grateful to God every day for keeping hold of my hand. It’s been quite a journey, and looking ahead, all I see are blue skies. I’d say I’m ready for the next chapter to begin.